Journal of the Korean Housing Association ISSN:2234-3571(Print) 2234-2257(Online) 한국주거학회논문집

The purpose of this study is to understand Le Corbusier's idea of public and private spaces, and the hierarchical spatial structure in his multi-family housings. It investigates the origin of Le Corbusier’s ideology about the public and private spaces in his multi-family housing projects. Precedents those influenced his ideas are two: first, Fourier’s ideal community model Phalanstère; second, Monastery of Ema near Florence. In both cases, private and public spaces and intermediate spaces were in clear hierarchy and also in harmony. Le Corbusier focused on the interplay of individual and collective life. This study analyzed the spatial composition of Le Corbusier’s three multi-family housing models. They are Immeubles-Villas of Ville contemporaine pour 3 millions d'habitants (1922), Immeubles-Villas at Pavillion of l’Esprit Nouveau (1925), Unité d’habitation at Marseille (1945). The three projects are different according to size and periodical characteristics. However, they followed his basic principle for spatial composition about multy-family housing. His ‘method of harmony for public and private space’ is as follows: first, the securing of clear personal space; second, the importance of the intermediate space; Third, the essential understanding of communal space. Through this study, it was reaffirmed that the ‘multi-family housing is a space where individuals and the whole co-exist’.